Online independent living aid retailer launches virtual occupational therapy service
Following a shift to more digital access of services as a result of the pandemic, online independent living aids store Complete Care Shop has announced the launch of a new occupational therapy service.
Offering a bespoke assessment and advice to older people or those living with illness or disability, the new service, conducted via a video call, provides a professional and tailored report detailing ways of retaining independence in their own home.
The new ‘Occupational Therapy Assessment Service’ offers a personalised, one-to-one assessment with one of Complete Care Shop’s fully qualified (registered with the Health and Care Professions Council) occupational therapists over WhatsApp, Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
During the assessment, the occupational therapist (OT) will discuss any challenges the person may be experiencing in getting around and performing daily tasks such as struggling with bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, dexterity, strength and personal care or living with conditions such as arthritis, dementia and incontinence.
The OT will be able to discuss this with the person and their family to understand what is important for them personally to be able to do at home and how this can be achieved, as well as evaluate the environment to assess any minor adaptions to the home or alternative solutions to support independent living. This report can be used to form part of an ongoing private healthcare plan.
Rachel Seabrook, Clinical Services Director at Complete Care Shop, commented: “Most people understandably want to do everything they can to ensure they can carry on doing the things that are important to them for as long as possible despite getting older or having a disability. For most of us that includes staying in our own homes.
“As we are all now using online services for everyday tasks like shopping, banking and making video calls to loved ones, the time was right for us to offer a virtual assessment with an Occupational Therapist to provide a personalised, proactive and rapid solution to those who may be experiencing difficulties and are unsure of where to turn for help.”
She noted that small adjustments can make a big difference to a client’s everyday life, which might not have been considered before.
“We ask people what is important to them right now, what they are able to do and the abilities they have and we listen to people’s frustrations, for example being unable to lift the kettle to make a cup of tea safely,” Rachel continued. “Too often we hear people very upset that they are finding things they used to be able to do harder, yet when we talk it through with them we find that often there is a simple solution to what seems like a big issue.
“If you or your loved one is starting to need more help at home and you’d like to see a professional quickly then we can work with you to assess the home environment and produce a report offering advice, suggestions and guidance to help make day-to-day life easier. Getting help and advice from an Occupational Therapist now could help you to enjoy life more fully and keep doing the things you love to do.”
The occupational therapy assessment via video call costs £195, excluding VAT, with VAT relief for eligible individuals applied in the checkout.
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Complete Care Shop is a trading name of Nottingham Rehab Ltd., widely known as NRS Healthcare.
NRS Healthcare is a supplier of mobility equipment and disability aids and provider of associated services helping people independently in their own homes. NRS Healthcare is the exclusive outsourced provider for a large number of local authorities across the UK.
Recently, the outsourced provider celebrated its one-year anniversary of working with Southampton City Council to support people in the community to live independently.
Over the past year, the provider has delivered more than 1,800 pieces of equipment per month to people in the Southampton community and exceeded its target by recycling 83 percent of returned equipment, ready for future use.